YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Seniors led the way as Young Harris College defeated Francis Marion University 6-1 in a Peach Belt Conference men's soccer match Saturday (Oct. 27) at the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field to capture the programs' fourth PBC title.
The Mountain Lions improved to 15-0-0 overall and 7-0-0 in the PBC, while the Patriots saw their four-match win streak snapped as they fell to 8-6-0 and 4-3-0.
Young Harris returns to action Friday (Nov. 2) as they travel to Evans, Georgia, for the semifinals of the PBC Tournament at Blanchard Woods Park. The Mountain Lions, who earned the No. 1 seed, will play the winner of Tuesday's (Oct. 30) first round match between the No. 4 seed Francis Marion and No. 5 seed Flagler College at 11 a.m. Friday (Nov. 2).
Young Harris is only the second Peach Belt team to ever go undefeated in the regular season - the last was the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg (now USC Upstate) when they went 17-0 back in 1998.
The Mountain Lions scored on four of their first six shots in the first 32 minutes.
Mikie Rowe scored two of his three goals in the first half as the Mountain Lions took a 4-0 lead into halftime.
Carlos Gomez and
Macauley King each added a goal in the first half. Gomez scored his second goal of the game early in the second half off an assist from
Seba Andreassen.
Rowe finished off his third hat trick of the season in the 61st minute to take a 6-1 Young Harris lead. Rowe is second in the YHC NCAA-era record book in goals scored in a single season with 22.
Andreassen tallied three assists for the Mountain Lions, while Gomez, King,
Christian Kjellsby collected two saves in goal for Young Harris, while Kristoffer Gregenaes was in goal for the Patriots.
The Mountain Lions outshot Francis Marion 13-5 (6-3 on goal), with an even 2-2 on corner kicks.
Young Harris recognized 13 seniors prior to the match - Blake Andrews,
Manace Balegamire,
Carl Brannstrom, Gomez,
Mehdy Hidane, Jacq, King,
Costa Lopez, Rowe,
Connor Stanley,
James Thomas, Kenny Webb, and
Paul Young.
